1 Samuel 11

1 Samuel 11:5-11

In this chapter we have the first-fruits of Saul’s government, in the refuse of Jabeh-gilead. Here is, 1. The great extremity to which the city was reduced by the Ammonites, ver. 1—2. 2. Saul’s readiness to come to their relief, ver. 4—10. 3. The success of his attempt, ver. 11. 4. His modernity to those that had of good him, ver. 12. 13. 5. The public confirmation of his election to the government, ver. 14, 15.

1. THEN Nahath the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeh-gilead: and all the men of Jabeh said unto Nahath, ‘Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. 2. And Nahath the Ammonite answered them, ‘On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrift out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. 3. And the elders of Jabeh said unto him, ‘Give us seven days respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coaths of Israel: and then if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee. 4. Then came the messengers to Gibea of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lift up their voices, and wept.

v. 1—a Jabeh-gilead is hardly yet reinhabited and recovered from its defoliations, Judg. xvi. 10. before it is threatened with a second scourge from the sword of Ammon.

1. Nahath king of the Ammonites befinger them; and fearing themselves unable to resist his forces, they for for peace, and offer to become tributary.

2. The conditions proposed by this haughty king, are cruel and ignominious; not content with their service, he would torment them with the loss of their right eye, unfit them for war, and leave a brand upon the whole nation, as unable to defend themselves. Note, They who offer to become servants to his and Satan, will find the bitterness and haffness of this service.

3. They defen seven days respite, to acquaint their brethren of their distress; and if during this time they are not successful, they will submit to his tyrannical demands. This being granted from the confidence of the impossibility of help, they tend to Saul at Gibea; and their situation, when known in the city, produces a general lamentation. Note, The fortions of his brethren, a Christian heart forfeits as his own.

4. And behold, Saul came after the 7 herd out of the field, and Saul said, What aileth the people that they wept? and they told him the tidings of the men of Jabeh. 6. And the spirit of God came upon Saul, when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. 7. And he took a yoke of oxen, and ‘hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coaths of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, ‘so shall it be done unto his oxen: and the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out I with one consent. 8. And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9. And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeh-gilead, To-morrow by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabeh, and they were glad. 10. Therefore the men of Jabeh said, To-morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that heath good unto you. 11. And it was so on the mornor, that Saul put the people in three companies, and they came into the midst of the holt in the morning watch, and flew the Ammonites, until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

The sins of Belial now shall see whether Saul is able to save them or not.

1. Saul was in the field tending his cattle when the message came. Though chosen to be a king, yet returning to his old employment till God should call him out to action. As he followed his cattle home, the cry of the people excited his enquiry; and when he heard the cattle, anger against the inhuman Ammonite kindled in his bosom; he felt his spirit moved with unusual ardour, and instantly resolves the rescue of Jabeh-gilead. Note, (1) We must not hear the forróms of the afflicted, without kind enquiries, and proffering ready help to alleviate their miseries. (2) A holy indignation against deeds of cruelty and wickedness is highly commendable.

VOL. I.

2. The method he took to raise the forces of Israel. He hewed a yoke of oxen in pieces, and sent them by the messengers into all the coaths, threatening to do by their oxen who should be absent from the general rendezvous; and joined Samuel’s name with his own, both to pay him into our, and to engage the readers’ submission. The effect produced was great; God put his fear upon the people, and they instantly assembled from every quarter, to the number of three hundred thousand men of Israel, besides thirty thousand of Judah; whose proportion, though apparently smaller than might be expected, may easily be accounted for, as the Philistines lay on their brethren, against whom they must be guarded. Note, Where the fear of God is in the heart, there once will make conscience of their duty in every station, and be on principle good subjects, good soldiers, and good servants.

3. Confident of success, Saul sends the messengers back with assurance of immediate relief: he doubted not but on the mornor he should be with them, which killed the city with joy. To perform his promise, he marches instantly in three bodies; and though the distance was forty miles, and all on foot, on the third day before morning watch, he broke into the camp of the Ammonites, called into security with the message the men of Jabeh-gilead had sent them, on the return of the messengers, that they would come out to them the next day. A general rout enlisted; till mid-day they made havoc of the flying Ammonites, and to dispelled and destroyed them, that not two were left together, of all their numerous bolts. Note, When we go out, dependant upon God, we shall return crowned with victory.

4. ¶ And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. 13. And Saul said, ‘There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel. 14. Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. 15. And all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal: and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD: and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

1 Samuel 11:12-15

Samuel, it seems, had either accompanied them in the expedition, or met them on their return. And, if not now for the honour of their king, endeared to them by his victory, though they had before taken no notice of the insults, the people apply to him, to judge in Israel, for the death of their sons of Belial, who had deposed the anointed of the Lord. Saul, like a good king, taking more pleased in exercising his clemency, than executing the offenders, intercedes, and will not have that day flamed with Israelish blood, as which God had wrought so great a salvation for them. Note, All our pursuits must be ascribed to God; for it is his arm alone that obtains the victory for us, over our enemies spiritual and temporal. Samuel now shows the favourable disposition of the people, to confirm the kingdom to Saul: He led them to Gilgal; and it must be the joyful impulses for their past victory. Saul is the only invested with the supreme power by universal comfort, and with great solemnity. Note, It is good to make use of the favourable sake that blows.